The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-02-26
HUNTING THE cHAMoIs.


HUNTING THE cHAMoIS
A Huntsmsn's Thrilling Adventure-De-
scriptiou n Habits of the Beautiful
Little Animal
perhaps the most difficult hunting
in all Europe" said a friend, 'is ex-
p~erienced in following the chamois.
They have been chased from time i'm
memorial, and now are to be found
only on the most PERCEPTIONS cliffs,
where only those a venture who are
educated up to it from youth. Some
years ago l spent a winter in the heart
Of the Alpine country, and made up
my mind that l would have a chamois
pronounced sham-wah) head to deco
rate my study. l got it, and also nearly
left my bones in the Alps, and
wouldn't undertake the trip again for
any inducement.
II secured a guide, said to be the
bcst in the country for that sport, and
one beautiful morning we started out,
ready for a three days tramp, I carry
ing only my light rifle. My guide said
he had seen a buck several days before
on a cliff that encircled a mountain
about ten miles away, and toward this
spot We started, and by four in the
afternoon We were well up the mount
ain. So rough was the country and
climbing, that we tied ourselves to-
gcther by a long rope, and found that,
eve though carrying the traps, my
guide could still help me along occa-
sionally.
"Finally we reached a spot where
we could see the cliffs. 1t was q sheer
wall Of rock three thousand feet high,
without a sign of a place where a foot
hold could be gained, and utterly un-
approachable to my inexperienced eyes.
While we were resting, my companion
took out his glass, and after looking
through it for a few moments, he grasped
me blythe arm and pointed to the highest
spot on the ledge. Taking the instru-
ment, / soon saw my first live chamois.
It was a fine buck, and l could distinct
ly see the black horns as they projected
over the edge. as the little creature was
lying on the very verge of the preci-
pice, with its head partly hanging over,
and my guide said that several more
were probably in the real
"The sight Of the game refreshed us.
and we commenced the ascent again,
and after an hours hard climbing,
found that there was absolutely no
way of reaching the locality Of the
game except by going above, and be-
ing lowered down to a ledge just above
them. This. in a moment Of foolhardi-
ness, I determined to do, and by maxi
ing a long detour and going up another
thousand feet, we found ourselves up.
on an irregular plateau, that we esti-
mated must be directly over the ami
mails, and not FIVE hundred Yards
away.
1.-THE descent from here to the lower
ledge that was above the chamois was
precipitous in the extreme, and every
step was made with the greatest care,
the guide holding back on the rope as
! went ahead.
1--WE were fearful that a stone would
start and alarm the herd, but finally
we reached the spot, and looking over
the edge-that was 10 tremendous an
abyss that the trees in the valley be.
low looked like small bushes-i saw
that by being lowered down upon still
another ledge, I could, by leaning
over, probably get a shot, II in the
meantime the animals did not make of.
My guide carried a coil Of stout cord.
and this l dashed firmly about my waist;
the N, bracing against the rocks that
gave me the smallest foothold, l COM
menced the descent, foot by foot and
inch by inch, hanging literally by q
thread over the valley below. was so
excited by the prospect Of getting the
gam that ! did not realize the danger.
and kept on cautiously until / reached
the ledge. Then, bending my head
oyer In the slightest manner posi-
oie' +! saw the game. The buck was
upon his feet, and near him were sever
a Others. had Just room to lire.
which I did literally hanging in the
air, and joyfully saw my buck fall. and
neard the Gathering Of numbers Of
boots a. the rest moved of.
shouted to the gnide, and he low.
erea away; and I soon was by the ami
maI' . noble fellow over three feat il